Late in the
70's , Bobbie Mueller came to Vermont to meet with a group of Vietnam Veterans to talk
about the need for us to join together to fight for our rights that we were not getting
the support from other groups. Bobbie and others came and met with Donnie Bodette
and others from the Rutland area and talked about this idea. Donnie and others said
that Bobbie should start an organization with chapters in it. That is how Chapter #1
came to be and have done a number of things for Veterans and their community. Donnie was
elected to be not only chapter #1 first President, But also Vietnam Veterans of America
First Chapter President. ( Donnie Bodette pasted away Aug 10, 1997). We miss him.

In the early
90's, Robert Hannon from Bennington wanted to start a group, after talking with a number
of veterans and having a couple of meeting about which veterans group to join, Vietnam
Veterans of America was chosen. The chapter's first President was Robert Hannon and since
that time we have done a lot of things in our community and in the state.

In the middle
of the 90's right after the visit of the moving wall to Bennington, Buster Holmberg &
William Whitney contacted Chapter 601 to ask about starting a chapter in their home town
of Chester. We sent people up to talk with them and meet with a group of veterans and
because of these two veterans work their is a chapter there today. They to offer may
things to their community and to the state, Buster Holmberg was elected to be the
chapter's first president.

The following
year, Gary Greeno and Edward Jones of St. Albans again heard about the different chapter's
in the state and wanted to know how to start a chapter in St. Albans. Again Chapter 601
sent people to St. Albans to meet with a group of veterans and because of there two
veterans caring another chapter was formed. Gary Greeno was elected to be the chapter's
first President.

Early in 1999
two people from Chapter 753, Ed Jones & Ron (Tiny) White wanted to see if there was
interest in starting a chapter in the Burlington, Essex Jct area and did a lot of work in
putting out posters and ads and contacted the state council to come to a meeting in Essex
Jct to talk with a group of Veterans. Again two veterans came forward and a new chapter
was formed. At there first election Mike Colby was elected to be their first
chapter's president.

In the Fall of
1999, Carl Greenwood a life member of chapter 601 was asked if he would see if there was
interest in his home town of Brattleboro. Carl did a lot of leg work and put out
posters and set up a meeting. Which the State Council President came to and talk
again with a group of veterans about starting a chapter and because of all of Carl's work
there is now a chapter there and Carl was elected to be the first chapter's president.

In the Fall of
2000, Ron (Tiny) White wanted to see if there was interest in starting a chapter in
the Montpelier area. Again much leg work was done by Tiny and a meeting was held at
the local VFW and the State Council President came and talked with another group of
Veterans out of that group Skip Thomas a at-large member came forward and said that he was
very interested in getting a chapter started. After a number of meeting, we now have
our seven chapter in the state and Bob Clark was elected as the Chapter's first President.

In the spring
of 2002, Brad Bedard came forward as said that he would like to start a chapter in his
home town of Bristol, Vermont and we said that we would come and help him get it started
and after their first two meeting they are ready to finish up the final paper work and we
should have our eigth chapter here in Vermont by Nov. Great Work Brad Bedard and all
of the other brothers who have come forward to start this chapter.